Skip Navigation

Primary Early Years Education with QTS BA (Hons)

UCAS code: X310

Are you striving to become a confident and inspiring teacher? Join us on this degree and gain recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status. Specialise in training to teach children 3-7 years and learn how to foster the natural curiosity of young children.

Overview

Course length: 3 years full-time
Start dates: September 2024
September 2025
Location: Edge Hill University
Example offers: BBC-BBB (A Level) or DMM (BTEC) View full entry criteria
Subject(s): Education and Teaching
Faculty: Education
Department: Early Years Education
primary school children sat on carpet in classroom

With creative teaching and structured activities, you could inspire young children to learn and develop. On this course, you’ll specialise in education in early years settings and primary schools, from ages 3 to 7.

We’ll help you develop your own expertise and understanding of how children learn. You’ll study both the national curriculum and the EYFS statutory curriculum, and build up your knowledge in the subjects you will be teaching.

You’ll gain experience by working in a variety of schools and other settings, alongside experienced teachers. You’ll also undertake your own research projects to build up your specialist subject knowledge.

Successful completion of the course leads to recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

With your recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), on graduation you could teach in early years foundation stage (EYFS), key stage 1, and key stage 2.

Ofsted outstanding provider

Course features

  • Ofsted outstanding provider for initial teacher education

  • International students can apply

  • Professional accreditation

  • Professional practice placements

BA (Hons) Primary Early Years Education with QTS alumni, Elias Hughes

The early years of education is a fun, creative place where you can see the difference you are making to children’s lives.

Elias Hughes

BA (Hons) Primary Early Years Education with QTS

View alumni profile
Katy Dodd

Due to the valuable experience on placement I have developed my confidence to teach in different year groups in primary schools.

Katy Dodd

BA (Hons) Primary Early Years Education with QTS

View student profile

What you'll study

• Studentship and Professional Identity – learn how to study effectively and take charge of your own development. You’ll develop the planning, teaching and assessment skill you need to be an outstanding teacher. We’ll also provide studentship activities that are designed to enhance your academic skills.

• The Curriculum – you will study all the areas of learning and development in the early years foundation stage and all the national curriculum subjects for key stage 1. This includes computing and the use of ICT across the curriculum. With your excellent subject knowledge you can provide stimulating and imaginative learning experiences for children.

• Specialism – you’ll learn about a range of issues linked to children’s learning and development. You’ll study specific areas in detail and undertake small-scale research projects to gain expertise in early years education. This includes a study of early years pioneers and international approaches to early years.

• Professional Practice – you will spend a significant amount of time on professional practice placements in early years and key stage 1 settings during your three years. You’ll gain experience delivering the early years foundation stage and key stage 1 curriculum.

In your first year, you’ll learn the foundations of the early years curriculum. You’ll explore key topics like the nature of play, what it means to be a teacher in the 21st Century, and how to identify characteristics of effective teaching and learning. You’ll explore how settings operate and identify effective teaching techniques. Finally, you’ll embark on your first professional practice placement – observing, planning and assessing learning experiences in the early years foundation stage.

Compulsory modules:

Expand all
Characteristics of effective teaching and learning
EYFS principles into practice
Introductory curriculum (early years education)
The early years education environment

Year 2 builds on some of these themes while preparing you for your professional life. You’ll also explore how you can support children with special educational needs and disabilities and create inclusive primary early years environment. You will also explore the international and historical influences on early years education. Out on professional practice, you’ll build on your skills in assessment and evaluation, so you can ensure pupils make good progress in their learning.

Compulsory modules:

Expand all
Developmental curriculum (early years education)
Equality and diversity in the early years
Exploring international perspectives in early years education
Supporting all learners with a focus on SEND

In Year 3 we will look at advanced topics, such as leadership in the early years and educational research. You’ll develop your professional skills and choose your own specialist research topic such as arts and creativity, or mental health. You’ll also have your final professional practice placement where you’ll continue to build on your practical experience, preparing to fully step into the role of a teacher after graduation.

Compulsory modules:

Expand all
Consolidation curriculum (early years education)
Contemporary issues in early years education (research)
Leadership in the early years
The outdoor environment

How you'll study

Your programme will comprise significant time in schools and settings being trained by expert teachers and early years practitioners while being fully supported by the University.

During your professional practice you will progress from teaching small groups with a partner to teaching a full class on your own in key stage 1 and Early Years Foundation Stage , alongside planning for continuous provision and adult-led tasks in the early years foundation stage you become more confident in the classroom. You will also benefit from a variety of teaching contexts and the role of leadership and management.

University experience will include lectures, tutorials, seminar groups and independent study supported by online and distance learning materials. In workshops you will engage in, and reflect on, classroom-type activities. In schools and settings you will observe outstanding teachers modelling and reflecting upon a range of approaches to teaching and learning, talk to children and teachers and try out different teaching methods.

You will also have the opportunity to extend your experiences through conference days, workshops and additional specialist teaching opportunities.

Timetables for your first week are normally available at the end of August prior to enrolment in September. You can expect to receive your timetable for the rest of the academic year during your first week. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week. Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities.

How you'll be assessed

Your learning will be assessed in a variety of ways, including your classroom practice, portfolios of school-based work, written assignments, oral presentations and your teaching in schools and settings. You will be given clear assessment criteria and constructive feedback to enable you to improve further. Assessment on professional practice may use the full school year rather than the University academic year.

There are no formal written examinations as part of the current assessment methods on this programme.

Who will be teaching you

The Faculty of Education has been at the forefront of teacher education for 135 years and today enjoys the enviable position of being one of the country’s leading providers of education, training and research for the children’s workforce.

Your school mentor and university tutors will ensure that you learn from experts within the school and university settings. You will be taught by a range of highly qualified and experienced tutors including expert teachers and early years practitioners. Your tutors care passionately about high quality early years education and will help you to develop your own teaching style.

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

Typical offer 112-120 UCAS Tariff points, for which no specific subjects are required, plus GCSE English Language or English Literature, GCSE Mathematics and GCSE Science at Grade C or Grade 4 or above (or equivalent).

You are expected to have a commitment to early years education, demonstrating the personal attributes, values and motivation required to train as a teacher.

An interview forms part of the selection process, which can be conducted online or face to face.

Please note, for the purposes of initial teacher training, level 2 literacy and numeracy qualifications are not considered as equivalent to GCSE Grade C or Grade 4 in English Language or English Literature and Mathematics.

If you accept a formal offer from Edge Hill University you will be required to meet the Department for Education’s standards for physical and mental fitness to teach and clearance to work with children. Further information, including a Declaration of Health questionnaire and details of how to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Disclosure will be sent to you after you have firmly accepted an offer.

Example offers

Qualification Requirement
A Level BBC-BBB.
BTEC Extended Diploma (or combination of BTEC QCF qualifications) Distinction, Merit, Merit (DMM).
T Level Overall grade of Merit.
International Baccalaureate (IB) We are happy to accept IB qualifications which achieve the required number of UCAS Tariff points.
Access to Higher Education Diploma 45 credits at Level 3, for example 15 credits at Distinction and 30 credits at Merit or 24 credits at Distinction and 21 credits at Merit. The required total can be attained from various credit combinations.

Please note, the above examples may differ from actual offers made. A combination of A Level and BTEC awards may also be accepted.

If you have a minimum of two A Levels (or equivalent), there is no maximum number of qualifications that we will accept UCAS points from. This includes additional qualifications such as Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), AS Levels that haven't been continued to A Level, and General Studies AS or A Level awards.

English language requirements

International students require IELTS 6.0, with a score no lower than 5.5 in each individual component, or an equivalent English language qualification.

If your current level of English is half a band, one band, or one-and-a-half bands lower, either overall or in one or two elements, you may want to consider our Pre-Sessional English course.

How to apply

Apply full-time

Apply online through UCAS

Read our guide to applying through UCAS to find out more about the application process.

International

Apply as an international student

Please see our international student pages for further information about how to apply as a prospective international student.

Should you accept an offer of a place to study with us and formally enrol as a student, you will be subject to the provisions of the regulations, rules, codes, conditions and policies which apply to our students. These are available at www.edgehill.ac.uk/studentterms.

Did you know?

If you join a full time undergraduate degree at Edge Hill University, we will guarantee you the offer of a room in our halls of residence for the first year of your course.

Discover our accommodation

Facilities

Exterior photograph of the Faculty of Education BuildingHoused in a state-of-the-art £9million building, the Faculty of Education enjoys a stunning setting from both its lakeside and piazza buildings.

Facilities in the lakeside building include a 300-seat lecture theatre, five well-equipped ICT suites, and 18 teaching rooms complete with the latest technology. The lakeside building is also home to a popular vegan and vegetarian cafe where students can meet to socialise and discuss their studies.

The nearby piazza building offers modern facilities including a lecture theatre and a number of seminar rooms.

Where you'll study

Faculty of Education

Finance

Tuition fees

UK Full-Time

£9,250

a year

International

£16,500

a year

The University may administer a small inflationary rise in tuition fees, in line with Government policy, in subsequent academic years as you progress through the course.

EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, as well as Irish nationals, may be eligible for the UK tuition fee rate.

Financial support

Subject to eligibility, UK students joining this course can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the Government to cover the full cost of tuition fees. UK students enrolling on the course may also be eligible to apply for additional funding to help with living costs.

Please view the relevant Money Matters guide for comprehensive information about the financial support available to eligible UK students.

EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme may be eligible to apply for financial support. Irish nationals can ordinarily apply to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). If you are an EU student who does not have settled or pre-settled status, or are an international student from a non-EU country, please see our international student finance pages.

Your future career

So how do you get early years Qualified Teacher Status? This degree is accredited by the Department for Education. That means that successful completion of the course will enable you to gain recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

You will qualify as a teacher who is able to bring early years practice and underpinning knowledge of child development to your first teaching post, whether this be in the early years foundation stage (EYFS), key stage 1 or key stage 2.

Before the end of your degree, you will need to complete a professional portfolio and viva which acts as a useful bridge between your initial teacher training programme and your two-year induction as an early career teacher.

Course changes

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, however our courses are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may necessitate alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses.

Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of professional bodies, revisions to subject benchmarks statements, to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

Track changes to this course

Discover Uni: Full-Time Study

Download our course leaflet